kjj007

Yeah there are many that get together for study groups. I have gotten together with other students to study, but I study much better on my own and then bouncing off questions to the other students. Many of the cohorts of classes start their own facebook page where the students of that class can talk to each other. This is very helpful in working together to answer questions. At the end of the semester there are always a couple of groups of students that get together to go out. There are always going to be people that like and don't like the online format, but it really is what you put into it is what you get out of it.

I am currently in my third semester in the Marian Accelerated Online Program. It is a lot of work, but I am glad of my choice for the online program. The clinical experiences have been great. The people that are in the program come from a diverse background which makes the learning environment very unique. At first I was not sure if I liked the independent learning environment but now I really like it. I am glad I do not have to drive to campus everyday and spend the whole day there. I have a family so it helps to have some flexibility, although I will say that you still end up going to campus at least once or twice a week for testing that is scheduled. Also in your first semester you will spend a great deal of time at campus the second part of the semester for clinical labs. So far the first and third semesters are the hardest. The third semester contains so much paperwork from clinicals and on top of that a heavy didactic course load.

Thanks! I currently have childcare but definitely not for more than 10 hours a day. My husband keeps telling me to not worry about it and that we will figure something out.

I just need some advice...I am currently in nursing school with a year to go. My husband and I have a 2.5 year old son. My husband travels quite a bit for work. When he travels he is typically gone between 2 and 3 weeks. The past 3 months he has only been home a week and a half as his job has taken him to Australia. He will be home from this job in a week and a half. I'm concerned that after I graduate, how will I actually be able to work as a nurse? I have not heard of any nurse not working 12 hour shifts and most of the time it seems new nurses must start the night shift. I am so worried that I am going through nursing school and will not be able to go after the job I really want (maternity or peds) because who will watch my son all night and pick him up if I cannot. I'm so frustrated. Can I get a job straight out of school working PRN so I can just work when he is in town? Any advice? Are there nursing jobs that are not in a doctors office that are regular 8 hour shifts during the day? Any advice would be great. I'm so just so tired of worrying about this. Thanks!

I just finished my first semester and this week just started my second. It is definitely possible to have a part time job, but you will probably feel overwhelmed even if you were not working. The first semester of nursing school is tough because you are learning a whole new way of thinking. There are a few people that are working full time jobs. The first semester you will have the majority of your exams on Monday and then when clinicals begin that will be either Tuesday/Wednesday or Thursday/Friday. You will be studying a lot and listening to hours of lecture. I would say that you are spending about 20 to 30 hours a week on class stuff. Depending on the week and that is not including clinicals. You will also meet a lot of people and you can form study groups which can be beneficial. Best of luck! It is worth it.

I was able to get some financial assistance, but may still need to get some private loans further on in the program. We start clinicals in two weeks. It should be fun. There are approximately 65 students in my class right now. We are the biggest class so far. The one before us, I believe is around 25. We don't think all 65 will make it through the first semester. Almost every cohort has lost people throughout the program.

I start clinicals in a couple of weeks. I was able to get some money through FASFA you may be able to too. I was able to quit my job in January to concentrate on prereqs so that helped. I took 22 credit hours in the spring and 17 this summer. It was a lot of work but doable. I have a two year old son but he has remained in daycare so I can study during the day. My husband travels quite a bit so I definitely needed the time during the day to get homework done.

The tests were not too bad, but I did study quite a bit. You definitely have to know the material to do well. Anatomy is something that you are going to need to have a good grasp of in physiology and nursing classes. I got an A in Anatomy and in Chemistry. I am in my first semester at Marian and no you do not need to take the TEAS exam. Taking the online classes will help you get ready for the online courses in the Marian program. They are a little different as the nursing classes really emphasize application so you get used to thinking a different way for the NCLEX. So the tests are a little more difficult for the nursing program. I am still at the beginning so I'm sure it will still get a bit harder but it is doable if you put your mind to it.

Chemistry and Anatomy were not too bad through Marian. Microbiology was the hardest. I took it during the summer through Ivy Tech and it is way too much information to go through in 10 weeks, but saved a lot of money going through Ivy Tech so in the end worth it.

I took Chemistry and Anatomy online through Marian. I took Lifespan Dev. through IUPUI, Micro and Physio through Ivy Tech, both Theologies through MAP, Abnormal Psych. through MAP and Nutrition through Marian. I finished all the prereqs or general ed requirements before I started the program. It helps out to get them out of the way.

You will do great! I just started the Marian program this Fall. Are you taking them online through Marian?

Ivy Tech is about $100 per credit hour.

I'm currently in the program at Marian. I quit my job in January 2011 to focus on prereqs and finishing my Masters full time. There are many people that have taken prereqs and worked full time with kids so it is possible. I took two of my science prereqs (Chem and Anatomy) through Marian Online. I took a lot of Chem undergrad but for some reason they would not accept any of them. They were not very bad online. But I took Physio and Micro at Ivy Tech and they were much harder and more time consuming but I saved a lot of money doing so. I took four of the prereqs in the Spring and six in the summer. I got all the general ed classes out of the way so I did not have to take them during the program. Both theologies and nutrition. I think this was definitely worth doing. I spend a great deal of time studying. I would say take the credit hour of the class and times it by three. and that is approximately how much time you will need to devote a week. Sometimes double that depending on the class and the time frame available. I think it will definitely be worth it and I have loved the people I have met through the program so far. They are all in the same boat.

Just from talking to other Ivy Tech applicants, the LPN program is something you would have to apply to separately from the RN program.

Hmmm, maybe there is a way where I could do the fall semester online and then start in the spring in the campus based program. If it's the same price that is something definitely to look into.

The on-campus Accelerated BSN through Marian University only begins in Spring, do you know if that is correct? Also, is the tuition higher for the campus based program?

This is a fantastic quote! Thanks for sharing. Yeah it probably is the best decision to wait. It's just hard sometimes for me to be patient. I want to do everything at once.

I am a mother to a 22 month old baby boy and am in the midst of finishing my prereqs for nursing school. I am starting an accelerated BSN in the fall. My husband and I have talked many times and he wants to wait until after I'm done with school (Dec. 2012) and after I am at my job for six months. He is a planner and doesn't like the idea of me being in school and pregnant again like I was for our 22 month old. I agreed at first but the more I think about it the more I don't think I want to wait. My sister and I are two years apart and it was the perfect age difference. The age difference between my son and his potential sibling would be more 4 or 5. That just seems like quite a big difference in age especially as our son would be getting to the age when he can do more and more activities. I don't think it will be any easier to be pregnant after nursing school working 12 hour shifts than it would be being pregnant in nursing school? Any advice? I was in school for my masters for my first as well as working full-time. This time around I would only be concentrating on school and would have full-time childcare for my son.

So overall are you happy with the program? Has the clinicals at St. Vincent been well organized? Are many students gaining employment through St. Vincent following graduation?

The online anatomy class through Marian takes quite a bit of studying time. It is pretty much teaching yourself the material. There are powerpoints available but no actual lecture. It's definitely doable just takes time going through the chapters multiple times.

I am enjoying reading these responses. I have been working on my prereqs for the Marian program this past semester and will finish them this summer. My plan is to start in the Fall. I am very excited and like the idea of being able to schedule my class time on my own. I am a mother and sometimes when having a child schedules need to be moved around to accommodate any needs or doctors appointments he will have. I will be fortunate to not have to work during the program and my son will continue to go to daycare. This will be a major help and I think will make nursing school a little more manageable as my husband travels a lot for work so during the week and some weekends its just me and my son. Thanks for all the great responses. It has been great to hear from students from the Marian program.

I have taken Chemistry and Anatomy. They were fine online and the professors communicated regularly. Their online classes are expensive though.

What semester are you in? How are the clinicals?

I'm taking Anatomy, Chemistry, Lifespan Development, two theology classes (required for where I'm applying) and then finishing up my two final masters courses for public affairs. I've been looking into for the past 6 months. I really got interested in it after I had my son and my husband suggested I go to this open house for one of the schools this past summer.

I have been working as a horticulturist/ arborist for the last 7 years. So now instead of thinking of the health of the plants it will be the health of people. :)